Asian Poker Tour pays out big in Hanoi; Hai Nam Hoang wins Main Event for ₫2.79B (~$117K); Aigars Plivcs, Hoang Hai Nguyen, Kunal Patni among highlights

 

Massive success at the Asian Poker Tour’s first event of the calendar year. From start to finish, it was maximum capacity at host venue Vietnam Series of Poker in Hanoi, Vietnam. The series ran from February 3 to 12, paying out a tour record 62 Billion in Vietnamese dong (~$2,619,500) across 34 events to crush all of its past numbers.

Reminiscent of the brand’s inaugural Vietnam event back in 2018 that  664 saw entries (with a lower buy in), APT Hanoi 2023 Main Event pulled in 654 entries for a prize pool of ₫15,859,500,000 (~$666,100). In numbers, locals dominated both the field and the final table with their very own Hai Nam Hoang taking it to the limit for his career first live title and largest score of ₫2,794,200,000 (~$117,350). 

As a fairly newcomer to the live tournament scene, with just one year of stats under his belt, Hoang has been posting impressive results that it is sound to say a victory was destined. Out of Hoang’s nine cashes last year, seven were final table finishes and three earned him five digits. The APT win marks his first live title and first six figure payout. 

Buy in: ₫27,500,000 (~$1,165)
Guarantee: ₫10,000,000,000 (~$423,500)
Entries: 654
Prize pool: ₫15,859,500,000 (~$666,100)
ITM: 96 places

Final table payouts in VN₫

1	Hai Nam Hoang	Vietnam	2,794,200,000*
2	Tuan Tai Nguyen	Vietnam	2,100,000,000*
3	Petr Rudnev	Russia	1,335,370,000
4	Thanh Hai Nguyen	Vietnam	1,022,940,000
5	Son Le	Vietnam	810,420,000
6	Zhao Feng	Singapore	631,210,000
7	Duc Trung Dinh	Vietnam	459,930,000
8	German Bukharov	Russia	314,340,000

*Heads up deal

APT High Roller 8-Max: AIGARS PLIVCS

Another player locking up a career high payout was Latvia’s Aigars Plivcs who earned a hefty VN₫ 2,191,510,000 (~$92,980) for his APT High Roller 8-max victory. The win marks Plivcs’ second live title with his first at the 2022 APT Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Super High Roller event. 

The APT High Roller 8-Max drew a tremendous 204 entry field to fatten the prize pool to ₫9,894,000,000 (~$419,000) which was well over three times its guarantee. This was also the second largest pot of the series.

Unlike the other heavily attended events, the payouts were dominated by international players. Among the notables was South Korean pro / WSOPC Online ring winner Seungmook Jung who finished 2nd for ₫1,479,150,000 (~$62,650).

Buy in: ₫55,000,000 (~$2,330)
Guarantee: ₫3,000,000,000 (~$127,000)
Entries: 204
Prize pool: ₫9,894,000,000 (~$419,000)
ITM: 27 places

Final table payouts in VN₫

1	Aigars Plivcs	Latvia	2,191,510,000
2	Seungmook Jung	South Korea	1,479,150,000
3	Jargo Alavali	Estonia	1,018,090,000
4	Tu Thanh Le	Australia	830,110,000
5	Dennis Ng	Hong Kong	661,910,000
6	Truong Toan Chan	Vietnam	508,550,000
7	Jasven Saigal	India	370,040,000
8	Quang Huy Dinh	Vietnam	268,130,000

Most cashes: HOANG HAI NGUYEN

With an abundance of tournaments to tackle, a long list of players cashed out multiple times. Among them was Vietnam’s Hoang Hai Nguyen who cashed in six events, the most by any player. His deepest was a victory at the first Hyper Turbo event. 

Multiple winners: DUNCAN SON, JINLONG HU, KUNAL PATNI

Out of the 34 trophies won, Duncan Son, Jinlong Hu, and Kunal Patni each took home two. Here is a list of their victories:

• Vietnam’s Duncan Son shipped the Monday Madness and Hyper Turbo 8-Max
• China’s Jinlong Hu shipped the High Speed Main Event and Tick Tock; he nearly claimed a third title at the Crazy Pineapple – Hyper Turbo finishing in 2nd place
• India’s Kunal Patni won two Hyper Turbo 8-Max events

Most final table payouts: GERMAN BUKHAROV

Russian player German Bukharov may not have brought home a trophy but he still had a fantastic run at his first APT. Bukharov cashed at five events, landing a total of four final tables. This was the most final table cashes by any player at the series. 

• 6th – APT Kick Off
• 2nd – Sunday Special
• 8th – APT Main Event
• 2nd – Monday Madness 

APT Hanoi 2023 early highlights

Up next: APT PHU QUOC 2023

Last year, the APT became the first brand to stage an event in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. Eligible locals made their way, joined by international players flying in from neighboring countries. The turnout was promising enough to give it space in this year’s roster.

The APT returns to the Corona Resort & Casino Phu Quoc from March 24 to April 2. The ten-day series features a Main Event guarantee of ₫10,000,000,000 (~$423,500) and 41 side events. Full schedule here.